Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich

"Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich"
German Christmas carol by Nikolaus Herman
The author of lyrics and melody, on the title of a 1560 publication
English "Praise God the Lord, ye sons of men"
Other name "Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich"
Text by Herman
Language German
Based on Puer natus est nobis
Published 1560 (1560)

"Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich" (Praise God, all Christians equally) is a German Christmas carol with lyrics and melody by Nikolaus Herman. It is part of Protestant and Catholic hymnals, has inspired musical settings, and has been translated. The title is also known as "Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich".

History

Nikolaus Herman: Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich, Melodie und Text 1561

The song is traditionally dated 1560, because it appeared then in eight stanzas with the melody in Wittenberg. The melody was connected before in 1554 with the text "Kommt her, ihr lieben Schwesterlein".[1] An early version of text and melody appeared already around 1550 on a leaf ("Liedblatt") Drey geistliche Weyhnacht/ lieder, vom Newgebornen kindlin Jesu / für die kinder im Joachimstal (Three sacred Christmas songs, of the newborn little child Jesus / for the children in the Joachimstal).[2]

The first line was often rendered as "Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich" from the beginning of the 17th century, which became the title of musical settings of the period.[1]

The song in originally eight stanzas is included with six stanzas (1.2.3.6.7.8) in the current Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch as EG 27, and with four stanzas (1.2.3.8) in the current Catholic hymnal Gotteslob as GL 247.[2]

Melody and settings

Puer natus est nobis in the codex Don Silvestro dei Gherarducci

Herman based the melody on the Gregorian introit antiphon for Christmas "Puer natus est nobis" (A boy is born for us").[3] It was often used in Baroque compositions. Johann Sebastian Bach composed a chorale prelude, BWV 609, in his Orgelbüchlein.

Translation

It was translated by August Cruller as "Praise God the Lord, ye sons of men".[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Mang, Theo; Mang, Sunhilt, eds. (2007). Der Liederquell (in German). Wilhelmshaven: Noetzel. pp. 1014–1015. ISBN 978-3-7959-0850-8.
  2. 1 2 Stalmann, Joachim (2007). "27 Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich". In Hahn, Gerhard. Liederkunde zum Evangelischen Gesangbuch. Liederkunde zum Evangelischen Gesangbuch. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. pp. 16–22. ISBN 978-3-525-50337-9.
  3. ↑ Bautsch, Markus. "Puer natus est". Über Kontrafakturen gregorianischen Repertoires (in German). Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Praise God the Lord, ye sons of men". Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
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